Qualifying Life Events
Certain life events may allow you to make changes to your benefits outside of the annual open enrollment period. These events, known as Qualifying Life Events, are defined by the Internal Revenue Service.
Common qualifying life events include:
- Changes in marital status (marriage, divorce, legal separation)
- Birth or adoption of a child
- Loss or gain of dependent coverage
- Changes in employment status
Important Considerations:
- Timing: You must submit your request within 30 days of the qualifying life event. (You may begin the process up to 14 days before the qualifying life event occurs.)
- Documentation: Supporting documentation must be uploaded to your ICUBA portal within the 30-day timeframe.
- Consistency: Any benefit changes must align with the specific qualifying life event.
- Deduction: If a life event's effective date is between the 1st and the 15th of the month, you will be responsible for the full month's updated deductions. If the effective date is between the 16th and 31st of the month, updated deductions will begin the following month.
How to Initiate a Qualifying Life Event:
- Log in to ICUBA: Access the ICUBA portal through SharkLink.
- Navigate to Life Events: Under the "My Benefits" tab, select "Life Events." (Screenshot)
- Follow the Prompts: Complete the required information and upload necessary documentation
Notes:
- If documentation is not submitted before the 30-day window, the change request will be denied and rejected.
- Select the domestic partner option when the life change pertains to a domestic partner only.
Qualifying Life Event Examples
The following are common examples of life events that may allow you to enroll or make changes to your coverage outside of NSU's Annual Open Enrollment Period or your New Hire Enrollment window.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive and may not include all possible life events. Some life events may allow for family enrollment, similar to the Annual Open Enrollment Period.If you get married, you can usually add your spouse to your insurance policy within 30 days of the date of marriage.
If you lose coverage through a divorce, you can enroll within 30 days of the divorce finalization date.
If you lose coverage due to "aging out" of a parent's plan, you may be able to elect coverage within 30 days of the date coverage ends.
Please note that this is typically, but not always, your 26th birthday. Coverage may extend beyond your 26th birthday, depending on the specific plan.
If your spouse or other eligible dependent experiences a change in employment status that affects health insurance eligibility, you may be able to make changes to your benefits within 30 days of the date of the change in eligibility.
If your spouse or other eligible dependent moves to the US from outside of the country, they may be able to join the plan provided they can show their passport stamp within 30 days of arrival.
A spouse or other eligible dependent going through open enrollment with their employer can also count as a life event for the NSU plan.
For example, if your spouse declines coverage during their employer’s open enrollment, they may join your plan within 30 days of their loss of coverage..